Democrats Block Funding Deal, Leaving Congress Without a Clear Path to Avoid Shutdown Before Christmas
A spending bill backed by Donald Trump has failed in the House vote, primarily due to interference from tech mogul Elon Musk, who disrupted a previous bipartisan agreement. The bill’s failure leaves Congress in disarray, with no clear solution in sight to prevent a government shutdown, which could cause significant disruption before Christmas.
Elon Musk criticised House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries following the vote, accusing him of rejecting a critical bill that could have aided states devastated by hurricanes earlier in the year. Musk posted on X, condemning Jeffries’ decision: “Shame on @RepJeffries for rejecting a fair & simple spending bill that is desperately needed by states suffering from hurricane damage!”
As the threat of a shutdown grows, congressional leaders are regrouping to explore potential alternatives. The bill, supported by Trump, had aimed to keep the government open and extend the debt ceiling deadline by two years. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson’s bipartisan deal would have maintained funding levels until mid-March 2025, a proposal criticised by the incoming administration and Senator JD Vance for not addressing the debt ceiling.
Democrats, however, have ridiculed Musk’s growing influence over the political process, with Senator Bernie Sanders mocking the billionaire’s role by referring to him as “President Elon Musk” in a sarcastic post on X.
